Wondering what to do over the summer? Need volunteer hours or just want to have fun? Look no further than this article.

Volunteer opportunities:

Volunteer opportunities are a great way to improve your college or personal resume. They show schools and colleges that you’re willing to put in hard work without asking for anything in return.

• Alice Austen House – become a Gallery Attendee, Tour Guide, Garden/Groundskeeper, or an Educator for the Alice Austen House at 2 Hylan Boulevard. More information available at aliceausten.org.
• Animal Shelters – there are numerous animal shelters on Staten Island. One program that covers all of NYC is the Animal Care Centers of NYC (www.nycacc.org). The shelter on Veterans Road West is currently looking for volunteers for dogs, cats, and rabbits. You may apply online but you must be 18 years of age or older.
• NYC Parks – Staten Island is known as the Green Borough due to our abundance of parks, so why not take advantage of the great outdoors for some volunteer opportunities? Parks that currently offer volunteer programs are: High Rock Park, Freshkills Park, Willowbrook Park, and Deere Park. More information available at https://sigreenbelt.org/volunteer.
• Nursing/Medical Opportunities – Northwell Health (https://siuh.northwell.edu/get-involved) and Visiting Nurse Service of New York (https://www.vnsny.org/giving/volunteer/) both offer service hours. Northwell Health needs help with playing with pediatric patients, assisting elderly patients, showing visitors how to get around the campus, assisting in one of their offices, and working at the gift shop. VNSNY needs help with preparing layette gifts, assisting at their Chinatown Community Center and Neighborhood NORC with recreational activities, VNSNY Volunteer Navigators help newly diagnosed cancer patients through the maze of available services and supports, as well as provide assistance getting to and from appointments, providing comfort in the home, and fitting patients with a no-cost wig or head covering, and working behind the scenes assisting with fundraising, office support, coordinating their Holiday Toy and Gift Drive, as well as with other special events.

Summer Fun Spots

• Ralph’s Italian Ices – How could summer fun not include Ralph’s? This iconic Italian Ices spot in New Dorp makes some of- if not the best– ices and ice cream available on the island. Open from 11:30am to 11:00pm every day, it’s a no-brainer when you need a cold and sweet treat to cool down.
• NYC Summer Streets – For the first three Saturdays of August, Park Avenue from Central Park to the Brooklyn Bridge will be closed to traffic. You’re free to bike or walk the streets while food vendors, arts and physical activities line the streets. Events take place from 7am to 1pm, so take advantage to see the city in a new way!
• NYC Weekend Walks – In the same vein as Summer Streets, certain streets in all 5 boroughs will be closed for fun events and festivals! You can check the schedule on https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dot/weekendwalks/html/find/find.shtml.
• Rainy Day activities – Got nothing to do on rainy day? There are plenty of spots here in Staten Island and Manhattan to have fun on a rather boring day. In Staten Island, places like Rollerjam and The Hoppe Shoppe offer retro fun and good food. In Manhattan, museums like The Metropolitan Museum of Art or The American National History Museum always have new and exciting exhibits. Admission is also discounted for Students with ID. Chelsea Piers also has a variety of drop-in activities such as bowling, rock climbing, and ice skating. You can check online for more at their website.